Man Utd will be forced to pay Alexis Sanchez a £1.1million loyalty bonus when he returns from Inter Milan.
The Chilean forward has flopped since moving to Old Trafford on an extortionate contract worth £400,000-per-week.
United are still paying a significant portion of Sanchez’s wages during his loan spell at Inter, and were hopeful the Italian club would make the move permanent.
But Inter boss Antonio Conte has had a change of heart over keeping Sanchez on beyond the end of this season due to his poor form at the San Siro.
Now the Sun report that United will be hit with a further blow as Sanchez’s return will activate a clause in his initial contract.
(Image: REUTERS)
The 31-year-old will be entitled to the seven-figure bonus in July, which at this rate could be before the transfer window reopens.
Sanchez has made just two starts in Serie A since moving to Inter in a season in which he has been plagued by injury.
Inter have the option to buy Sanchez at the end of the current campaign for £17.5m, but Conte would rather the club pursue cheaper and younger alternatives.
(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)
The cost of Sanchez’s transfer to United continues to spiral while the club remain desperate to offload him.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is seemingly content to welcome him back into the fold for next season however.
Solskjaer said in January: “Alexis will come back in the summer and prove you all wrong.”
United have changed tack from their previous strategy of signing galactico stars, and have done a reasonable job of moving on unwanted talent.
But Sanchez’s salary is proving to be a real problem, and United chiefs are keen to sell him in order to free up funds for new arrivals.
Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish remain top of the wishlist, but both will command huge fees and salaries, placing a bigger importance on the sale of Sanchez.
